Death is something very real and unnerving. It slightly disturbs and intrigues all of us, largely for its complete lack of the vibrancy and activity of the state of living we know so well.

As such, you’d hardly ever associate death with something as vibrant as a tree, would you?

One of the most common symbols and images associated with death is that of a coffin, which makes the whole thing seem even more frightening.

But death and burial don’t have to be all doom-and-gloom; with an interesting new invention, the particles that make up your body can go on to become something entirely new, something that will likely bring a bit more comfort to your family than the traditional means of burial.

The Capsula Mundi Project, based in Italy, was fueled by a love of trees and involves an organic, biodegradable pod that turns human bodies into nutrients for a tree that can be marked as it grows.

While the idea is quite fascinating, it is unfortunately still just a concept, largely because it’s illegal to bury someone in this fashion in Italy.

But once the project is approved and allowed by officials in the country, founders Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel hope it will eventually replace tombstones as the primary means of burial. Instead of constructing cemeteries, the duo hope to create what they refer to as ‘memory forests,’ which will be filled with trees fueled by the bodies of buyers’ loved ones.

So how does it work?

After death, the body is moved into the fetal position to allow it to fit into the capsule. The capsule is a biodegradable ‘coffin’ that will slowly break apart once buried and allow the decomposing body to become nutrients for the tree.

Once the pod is buried, a young tree is planted directly above to make use of the nutrients that are now in the soil thanks to the body below.

The idea behind the project is that, instead of visiting dead and dreary cemeteries, loved ones of the dead will be able to visit vibrant, living and ‘sacred’ forests and care for the trees in a manner that is far more cathartic and comforting than placing flowers on a tombstone.

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Economically and environmentally, the pod works in the exact opposite fashion as a coffin; instead of cutting down trees to build fancy coffins that are simply lowered into the ground and left there, trees are actually planted with each client that chooses to use this option.

The project will allow family members to choose what type of tree their loved one will become. The hope behind this is that, if possible, the person who will be buried underneath this tree will be able to choose their favourite kind of tree while they are alive, allowing their loved ones to find further comfort in the knowledge that the deceased had a say in what tree they ‘became’ upon their burial.

I must say, this is quite a beautiful idea. It takes the idea of death that seems like a full-stop to life and turns it into something that quite literally has the potential to grow.

Anna Citelli and Raoul Bretzel are currently working to change legislation and get this project moving. Spread the word and help it become a reality!

Jesse Hermanis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. He writes and produces video at PowerfulPrimates.com. Jesse began his alternative health journey after chronic back pain and has not looked back since. Follow him on Youtube and Facebook (also more Facebook), broadcasting out of Brazil, Florida, and in a dark distant cave (with internet).